College dropout working at a supermarket trying to build a career

I (M24) dropped out of college four years ago and now work full time at Target. It’s not the worst job, but it’s the kind of work that makes you start counting your life in shifts instead of days. I used to think I’d go back to school, besides the fact that I'll be racked up in student loans, it feels late to start college over again.

I really want to get into something tech. Something remote. I’ve been trying to teach myself anything that could get me out. Lately, it’s been AI and automation, I spend my nights watching tutorials, learning prompt engineering, and learning softwares on my laptop my shift. I mess around with tools like Bardeen for small browser automations, WorkBeaver AI for executing tasks directly on pc through prompting, also learning some n8n for traditional automation since I see people sell on Youtube those automation courses. I also try to do open source codes but I'm still getting around on how it works.

My problem is that even if I like learning this, something that can help me work on something, I'm not sure if jobs will hire me if 1) I don't have a degree 2) I don't have an experience.

Even if I try to learn these new softwares to adjust with the time passing, will it really be truly of help? Is there anything I can do to advance my career a little? Can I even compete in the job market right now?

If anyone here has ever made the switch from retail, fast food, or anything like this to a real tech or a freelancing online job, how did you start? I don’t need to be rich. I just want a life that doesn’t make me dread waking up. I just want anything that will make me start doing something for real.

Jobadvisor

You're not the only one who's felt stuck in retail or dropped out of college and still wanted more for themselves. A lot of people have made the jump from jobs like yours into tech, freelancing, or remote work — without a degree. It is possible. But it takes strategic effort, not just learning for the sake of learning.

You’ve already got some powerful things going for you:

✅ What You’re Doing Right

Self-Learning: You’re already teaching yourself tools like Bardeen, WorkBeaver, and n8n — and learning about automation and prompt engineering. That shows initiative and you're learning current, in-demand tech.
Time Management: Learning after long shifts is hard. That means you're disciplined, and that’s more valuable than most people realize.
Real Interest: You're drawn to tech naturally — you're not forcing it. That interest is your fuel.

But Here’s the Truth:

If you want to get hired, you need to start building proof. Because you’re right:

No degree? ✅ You’ll need proof of skill.
No experience? ✅ You’ll need proof of value.

🛠 What You Can Do Next – A Realistic, No-BS Roadmap

1. Pick a Niche You Can Build With

You’ve got a solid foundation in automation and AI tooling. That’s great — and becoming more in demand.

✅ Focus Suggestion:

Automation with n8n, Zapier, Make, or Bardeen
Browser + desktop automation using AI agents
Workflow tools that small businesses can pay for

Your future clients won’t care about your degree — they’ll care whether you can save them time or make them money.

2. Build a Public Portfolio

Your biggest weapon is showing, not telling.

🔧 What to include:

A few real workflow automations (screen-record them working)
Explain them simply: "This automation scrapes sales data, sends it to Google Sheets, then emails a summary daily."
Share these on LinkedIn, GitHub, or even YouTube Shorts

Even better:

Offer free builds to friends, small businesses, or online creators in exchange for testimonials.
Automate something for a local business or a creator on TikTok. Ask for credit or a testimonial.

3. Start Freelancing (Low Barrier, Fast Feedback)

You don’t need to "get hired" full-time right away. You need projects with real stakes.

📦 Platforms to try:

Fiverr / Upwork – but niche down. Use keywords like “n8n automation for Notion,” or “Bardeen browser workflow.”
Contra.com – more startup clients, more automation-focused
IndieHackers, Reddit (r/freelance, r/forhire) – great for reaching early clients

🎯 Don’t try to be the “everything” tech guy. Be “the guy who saves your VA 3 hours/day with smart automation.”

4. Turn Your Job Into a Testing Ground

You're already at Target full time — that’s a workplace with repetitive processes. Think about:

Inventory checks?
Scheduling or shift-swapping tools?
Employee dashboards?

Build automation concepts based on your work. You don’t need to use them at work (yet), but show them in your portfolio as real-world simulations.

5. Optional: Do a Cert — But Only If It Helps Your Direction

You don’t need a CS degree. But sometimes a small cert gives credibility.

Certs that might help:

Google IT Support Cert (if going support route)
Zapier Expert, n8n Contributor
Prompt Engineering courses (like LearnPrompting, free)
Anything by freeCodeCamp, Altcademy, or 100Devs

🧠 Mindset Shift

Don’t think of it as “leaving Target for tech.”
Think of it as: “I’m already a tech worker building skills. I just haven’t been paid for it yet.”

That changes how you talk about yourself, especially when applying or pitching to clients. You’re not a college dropout from retail — you’re an automation specialist building efficient tools for businesses.

💬 Bonus: What to Say on LinkedIn / in Pitches

“I build small automation tools that save teams hours every week. I specialize in n8n, Bardeen, and AI agent workflows. I’ve built tools that scrape data, auto-fill forms, and handle browser tasks — all without writing full codebases. I’m looking for freelance work or part-time contracts where I can solve time-sucking problems.”

🧩 Summary Checklist

✅ Choose a niche: Automation + AI agents
✅ Build 3-4 example projects (record videos, write simple explanations)
✅ Post them (LinkedIn, GitHub, YouTube, blog)
✅ Start freelancing (small gigs to prove value)
✅ Use certs only if they serve your goals
✅ Reframe your identity: you’re a tech builder — not "just" retail

Final Words

You’re not late. You're 24. If you spent the next 12 months seriously building your proof of skill, you'd be in a completely different place this time next year.

This isn't about being rich. It's about control. And you're already taking the right steps to earn that.

If you want, I can help brainstorm some automation project ideas for your portfolio or help write your first freelance profile. Just say the word.